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Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

“A lot of people are expecting me to really get out of the shadows of Danny Granger or Roy Hibbert or whatever. I'm ready for the task.”

This quote is what got me excited. It almost seems like he wants to become the best player on the team so to speak. Whether he's able to back it up is the important part. But hey, gotta start somewhere. I like the attitude/confidence.

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Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

I thought this was the most interesting part of the article.

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Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

The message Indiana Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw delivered to guard Paul George was brief, but to the point.

After George had finished one of his summer workouts at a Southern California gym, Shaw sat the third-year guard down and left him with something profound to ponder.

"I told him that the fact that everybody in the starting lineup is basically already who they are with the exception of him," Shaw recalled saying. "Whatever steps he makes are going to be the same steps the team will take."

Talk about pressure.

George looked like he was ready for that responsibility last season when he played at times like the team's best all-around player. But then there were occasions when he was the fifth best Pacer on the court.

That's in the past, according to George. Shaw's conversation is implanted in George's brain and he said he is ready to carry that load on his shoulders.

"I feel like there's a lot riding on me," George said on the eve of training camp opening today. "I like the pressure. I like to be in the situation I'm in. I worked hard the whole summer to get better at my game. I'm the 'X' factor."

The Pacers hope to see more performances like the one George had against Dallas last season (30 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals) than the timid play they got from him at times during the 2012 playoffs.

"The sky is the limit," Pacers forward Danny Granger said. "He's so gifted. He can go as far as he wants to go. He has the ability to do so many things on the court, especially on the offensive end. What he brings to us is really invaluable."

George sat in his agent's office in California and watched the team's series against Miami, which they lost 4-2, "seven or eight times" breaking down the mistakes he made while defending Heat All-Star guard Dwyane Wade in pick-and-rolls. George also struggled offensively, shooting 37 percent from the field.

George put the tape away and committed himself to the gym.

He hit the weight room so that he could get stronger, which in turn should help his low post offensive game.

He worked on his ball handling, which was atrocious at times last season.

He worked on his inconsistent jump shot.

And he stayed in constant communication with Shaw throughout the off-season, picking the brain of the person who played with and coached Kobe Bryant, one of George's idols growing up.

"He (George) is 22, so you can't rush experience," Shaw said. "There are expectations for him and he wants to live up to those."

George averaged 12.1 points and 5.6 rebounds a game last season.

No amount of time doing individual work inside an empty gym could top the knowledge he obtained in early July in Las Vegas and while on a trip to the Far East with some of the world's best players.

George played against players like Bryant, James Harden and Kevin Durant on a daily basis as part of the Team USA select squad that practiced against the Olympic team prior to heading to London.

George watched how the players on the gold-medal winning team worked out every day, what they ate and how they approached the game.

He was also able to talk frequently to LeBron James when they went to China as part of a Nike promotional tour.

"The USA thing helped a lot," George said. "You're playing against some of the best players in our league. They brought it to us every game and every practice was tough."

George carried the confidence he gained during the offseason to the team's workouts leading up to the start of training camp, which opens with two practices today.

He set the tone during their scrimmages by getting after it defensively. He and newcomer Gerald Green went back and forth at each other on a regular basis making the games even more competitive.

"We're very pleased with his development," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "Clearly to go from a rookie to what he was able to do last year was a huge step. We think he's ready to take another huge step on both ends of the ball."

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Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

Could the Pacers have three All-Stars this year? Roy is most likely going to be back, many folks last year wanted Granger to be there only his early season slump really kept him out. Charles Barkley specifically said that was his position to lose... Which leads us to Paul George. If he scores anything over 16ppg I expect that to give him an All-Star appearence, because I have no doubt he is going to wreak havoc defensively this season..

Find me on the internets @mattiecolin

Read it and weep:

When George Hill is above 15% usage we won 73.5% of games. Below 15% usage we won 61.9%

Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

I just want Paul George to improve and play consistently. I'd be happy is he only increased his average to 14 points a game as long as he didn't have nights where he just dissapeared offensively and failed to score in double-figures. Of course, I think he's better than that and for the Pacers to have a chance to challange the Heat and stay ahead of the Knicks, Sixers, and Bulls, they'll need him to take the next step.

My guess is he'll average 16 points per game, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. He'll help the Pacers win a bunch of games but miss the All-Star game.

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Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

Roy being back as an All-Star depends on who the voters consider a center. It is almost impossible for a Pacer to be voted in, so with Howard in the West if Bynum is hyped and voted in then Roy is probably the coaches' choice. If someone else is voted in, then Bynum will be big compatition as the coaches' choice.

BillS

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Or throw in a first-round pick and flip it for a max-level point guard...

Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

Could the Pacers have three All-Stars this year? Roy is most likely going to be back, many folks last year wanted Granger to be there only his early season slump really kept him out. Charles Barkley specifically said that was his position to lose... Which leads us to Paul George. If he scores anything over 16ppg I expect that to give him an All-Star appearence, because I have no doubt he is going to wreak havoc defensively this season..

Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

Roy being back as an All-Star depends on who the voters consider a center. It is almost impossible for a Pacer to be voted in, so with Howard in the West if Bynum is hyped and voted in then Roy is probably the coaches' choice. If someone else is voted in, then Bynum will be big compatition as the coaches' choice.

Last year the centers were Howard and Roy. You'd think just swap Howard with Bynum, but they're starting Bosh at center this year and he's even publicly said already he should be on the AS ballot as a center.

If that happens, Bosh will likely get the fan vote at the 5, which means it could come down to Roy vs. Bynum for the only other C on the roster. BUT I think the last couple of spots on the roster can be wild cards, Iguodala is out west now, and it's not a lock the others from the 2012 roster make it back, either. Of course, new talent could also rise (including Paul George, maybe).

Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

For all this talk on here, people worried that PG is all about "swag" and is "too immature" maybe you should actually listen to him. The kid gets it. And he's gonna be special for us.

I'm also really happy that we have Brian Shaw here. I think he is invaluable to both PG and Lance. Any time in practice he can just bring up the Kobe card. You want to take a break? Do you think Kobe is taking a break right now?

Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

Roy being back as an All-Star depends on who the voters consider a center. It is almost impossible for a Pacer to be voted in, so with Howard in the West if Bynum is hyped and voted in then Roy is probably the coaches' choice. If someone else is voted in, then Bynum will be big compatition as the coaches' choice.

Roy is gonna have to compete against Bynum, Noah, Lopez, KG, Horford, Tyson Chandler, Varejao and Nene, out of those players you can count Bynum, Chandler and Noah as Roy's biggest competition with Nene, Horford, Lopez, Varejao and KG from the outside looking in depending of their teams records and how healthy they are.

Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

Roy is gonna have to compete against Bynum, Noah, Lopez, KG, Horford, Tyson Chandler, Varejao and Nene, out of those players you can count Bynum, Chandler and Noah as Roy's biggest competition with Nene, Horford, Lopez, Varejao and KG from the outside looking in depending of their teams records and how healthy they are.

Our All-Stars depend on a few factors, the biggest being team performance. If we're a top 4 team at least 1 all-star is guaranteed pretty much, likely Roy, since he's seen as our biggest difference maker, and competition is weaker, it's unlikely that other than Bynum, and perhaps bosh, any center is going to significantly outperform Roy, and if two players are comparable, and one is on a better team, the guy on the better team typically will get the nod.

Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

Are we to assume Roy won't improve at all this year, but Bynum, Noah, Lopez, KG, Chandler, Horford, Nene (lol), Varejao (lol), all will? Probably.

I didn't say that Roy wasn't going to improve, all I'm saying is that him been name to another all star is not as easy as many think here, lets remember that his numbers are not that great to begging with.

Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

I didn't say that Roy wasn't going to improve, all I'm saying is that him been name to another all star is not as easy as many think here, lets remember that his numbers are not that great to begging with.

13 and 9 basically with 2 blocks isn't shabby either. His defense is way underrated on this board for some bizarre reason. I agree it's not a walk in the park for Roy to get back, but I also think he's the favorite for one of the 2 spots at the moment.

Re: Paul George "I want to be an All-Star"

Are we to assume Roy won't improve at all this year, but Bynum, Noah, Lopez, KG, Chandler, Horford, Nene (lol), Varejao (lol), all will? Probably.

Not to agree with vnzla , but in my case I am more concerned about who gets the "never mind how good he is" public vote (forgot about Chandler. I think Noah is off the radar with DRose out, I am not worried about Horford being a fan favorite though Nene might have place going for him) leaving someone actually comparable to Roy in the mix for the coaches' pick.

If it was at all possible for Roy to get to be a fan favorite we'd have a little more fair jockeying for position, but that wouldn't happen even if our national broadcast games came before the first of the year.

BillS

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Or throw in a first-round pick and flip it for a max-level point guard...